Mood Improved By Lager

Jul 26, 2026

Rotherham United 0 v Sheffield United 2

Friendly

Saturday 25 July 2026

SUFC 2026/27 Game #4

In real time, I found myself frustrated by that performance. But, I've reflected, I've replayed. Those two goals looked good in real time. And even better on the replays. So, I'm not as grim as I was.

In real time, my frustrations were missed chances, shooting across the keeper … but wide, ponderous possession and no discernible style/plan.

My view was jaundiced by those two early, unconverted chances by Cannon and O’Hare. Of course, the build up to those shows what we can do when we are “on”.

Chong looked willing to play his wide role, and he took his goal superbly with a great touch to bring it all together, and a calm finish. Simply, we need that all season.

I ain't got the stats, but for every superb bit of control to put it in the right place, there were a few what's he fucking done that for miscontrols.

Some teams use possession to probe, to look for openings. Some teams use possession to control, to dictate. We seem to use possession because we've no fucking idea what else to do. If we're going to have wide men, then they have to get past people, and other players have to flood the box at the right time. The ball needs to be put in the right place, and a player has to be in the right place. Honestly, I didn't see a lot of that.

We didn't have any press to speak of.

Callum O’Hare scored a great goal. He saw the space, saw himself in the space, and boom - it all happened.

Look. We're working our way through pre-season. We're not looking awful. We have our moments, but we're not particularly struggling. Of course I want to see more. Of course I can be frustrated. But, I don't think it was as bad as I first thought.

Fucking one up top though, FFS.

I'm sure my subsequent mood was improved by an after match visit to;

Brewery of Saint Mars of the Desert

90 Stevenson Rd, Attercliffe, Sheffield S9 3XG

Stupendously convenient from Rotherham on either the Tram Train or X3 Bus. The brewery are currently in the early stages of one of their festivals.

Smodfest 2026. Basically a Lager Festival. I'll say, it's run in the usual uncompromising Saint Mars of the Desert way. They only open two ‘til eight Fridays and Sat. And they feel no need to change during their Festival. Consequently, Smodfest runs over FOUR fucking weekends - this being the first!!!

There are promises of stichfass barrels, with beer being dispensed by gravity. There are promises of holzfass barrels, wooden barrels lined with pitch. Incidentally, the SMOD main man told me they'd worked out how to reline those pitch barrels - but they'd burnt a hole in one of them trying to do it (giggling here).

AnyRoadUp, by the time the X3 dumped us down The ‘Cliffe, there was no sign of the specials. No drama, plenty to go at. All served ⅔ with the traditional big foam. Do the Photies quickly before that dies. Ditto - get stuck into them an’ all.

Saint Mars of the Desert, Smodfest 2026, Helles on Keg at 4.7%

Franconian style. Brewed using the open fermentation koelship. I found that a bit challenging at first. A bit thick n chewy and I wasn't sure where it was going. It took a while, but there was some thick sugar. I wasn't getting much, bitterness or otherwise, off the Hops.

Saint Mars of the Desert, Hopfenfest, Pale Lager on Keg at 3.5%